Saturday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time / Optional Memorial of Saint Faustina Kowalska, virgin

Luke 10: 13-16
Repent of our ecological sins

Today marks the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. In 1979, St. Pope John Paul II designated St. Francis as the patron saint of ecology. Today also signifies the conclusion of the annual observance of the month-long Season of Creation. The Season of Creation is a collaborative celebration of prayer and action to nurture the environment in which we reside.

In the Gospel today, Jesus rebukes the cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida for their lack of repentance despite witnessing His mighty works. This passage invites us to reflect on our own response to God’s presence and action in the world, especially in the context of creation. Have we become indifferent to the damage we are inflicting on the environment? Do we hear the call to repentance for our role in the ongoing ecological crisis?

Interestingly, Jesus rebuked Chorazin for their lack of response to his mighty works, implying that he did many works there. However, in the gospels, Chorazin is never even mentioned as a place of Jesus’ activity, and we do not know anything about what Jesus did or spoke there. This highlights how much we still have to learn about Jesus’s life. It reminds us that the gospels are not biographies but only glimpses into his life.

St. Francis teaches us a path of conversion, not only in our hearts but also in how we live harmoniously with nature. As we conclude the Season of Creation, we are reminded that caring for the Earth is not an optional task but an integral part of our faith. Our renewed commitment to protect God’s creation acknowledges that in doing so, we honour the Creator Himself.

May this feast and the close of this sacred season inspire us to repent of our ecological sins and embrace a life of stewardship, gratitude, and care for the world around us.

© Claretian Publications, Macau
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica 2024